Power Platform Interview Questions
1. What is Microsoft Power Platform?
Microsoft Power Platform is a suite of applications—Power Apps, Power BI, Power
Automate, and Power Virtual Agents—that enable users to analyze data, build
solutions, automate processes, and create virtual agents.
2. What are the components of Power Platform?
Power Apps – for building custom apps.
Power BI – for data visualization and business intelligence.
Power Automate – for automating workflows.
Power Virtual Agents – for building intelligent chatbots.
Dataverse – the underlying data platform for storing and modeling data.
3. What is Dataverse?
Dataverse is a secure and scalable data platform built into Power Platform that lets
you store and model business data. It supports relationships, business rules, and role-
based security.
4. What licensing considerations apply to Power Platform solutions?
Licensing depends on the connectors (Standard vs. Premium), the features used (e.g.,
Dataverse, custom connectors), and app type (Canvas vs. Model-driven). Premium
licenses like Power Apps per user or Power Automate per flow are needed for
enterprise-grade features.
5. What are standard vs. premium connectors?
Standard connectors are included with basic licenses and can be connected to
services like SharePoint and Outlook.
Premium connectors require additional licensing and connect to services like SQL
Server, Dataverse, and Salesforce.
6. What are the types of Power Apps?
Canvas apps – designed with a drag-and-drop UI for flexible layout.
Model-driven apps – data-first apps driven by Dataverse.
Portals(has been renamed as Power Pages) – external-facing websites with access to
Dataverse.
7. What are the naming conventions for controls in Power Apps?
Per Matthew Devaney, naming follows this pattern: <typeAbbreviation>_<purpose>
Example: lbl_Header, btn_Submit, txt_Username
8. What is delegation in Power Apps?
Delegation refers to the ability to offload data processing to the data source instead
of retrieving all records into the app. Functions like Filter() and Sort() are delegable
when used with supported connectors like Dataverse.
9. What is the difference between Patch() and SubmitForm()?
Patch() is used for custom write operations to a data source, offering more control.
SubmitForm() is used with form controls to submit data automatically.
10. What are collections in Power Apps?
Collections are temporary, in-memory tables created using Collect() or
ClearCollect(). They are ideal for storing app-specific data like a shopping cart or
session values.
11. What is Power Automate?
Power Automate is a workflow automation tool that enables users to automate
repetitive tasks by creating flows that connect apps and services.
12. What types of flows are available in Power Automate?
Automated flows – triggered by an event.
Instant flows – triggered manually.
Scheduled flows – triggered at set intervals.
Business process flows – guide users through a business process.
Desktop flows – for RPA (Robotic Process Automation).
13. How can you handle errors in Power Automate?
Use Configure run after to handle failed, skipped, or timed-out actions. Combine with
Scope, Terminate, and Try-Catch patterns for error control.
14. What are dynamic content and expressions?
Dynamic content is automatically populated from previous steps.
Expressions use Workflow Definition Language syntax in Power Automate to
manipulate data such as strings (concat()), dates (addDays()), and logical operations
(if(), equals()).
15. Can Power Automate connect to on-premises data?
Yes, using the On-Premises Data Gateway, you can securely connect to on-premises
data sources like SQL Server or SharePoint Server.
16.What is Power BI?
Power BI is a business analytics tool that provides interactive visualizations and
business intelligence capabilities with a simple interface for end users.
17. What are Power BI components?
Power BI Desktop – design and development tool.
Power BI Service – cloud-based sharing and collaboration.
Power BI Mobile – mobile app.
Power BI Gateway – for on-premises data refresh.
18. What is DAX in Power BI?
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a formula language used in Power BI to create
custom calculations in measures, calculated columns, and calculated tables.
19. What is a measure vs. a calculated column?
Measure – evaluated at query time (e.g., SUM of sales).
Calculated column – stored in the model, evaluated row by row.
20. How do you schedule data refresh in Power BI?
Add that Pro or Premium license is needed for scheduled refreshes.
Use the Power BI Service with a gateway for on-premises data and set a scheduled
refresh frequency (daily, weekly, etc.).
Note: Scheduled refresh is available in the Power BI Service and may require Power BI
Pro or Premium Per User (PPU) licenses for higher frequency and larger datasets.
21. What is Power Virtual Agents?
A tool for building AI-powered chatbots without writing code. It integrates with Power
Automate and Dataverse.
22. How are topics created in Power Virtual Agents?
Topics are defined using trigger phrases and conversation paths. Each topic can call
Power Automate flows for complex logic or data operations.
23. How do you integrate Power Virtual Agents with other systems?
Use Power Automate to call APIs or access Dataverse, SharePoint, or other connectors
during a conversation.
24. What languages does Power Virtual Agents support?
Multiple languages are supported including English, Spanish, German, French, and
more. Bot authoring is done per-language.
25. Can Power Virtual Agents authenticate users?
Yes, authentication can be configured using Azure AD OAuth2 for personalized
experiences and data access.
26. What is a custom connector?
A wrapper around an API that allows it to be used like any other connector in Power
Apps or Power Automate. Used when no existing connector exists.
27. What is the difference between environment variables and variables in Power
Apps?
Environment variables are used across solutions and are configurable at
deployment.
App variables (e.g., Set(), UpdateContext()) are used at runtime within a single app
session.
28. What is ALM in Power Platform?
Application Lifecycle Management involves managing app versions, solutions, source
control (via Power Platform CLI), and CI/CD pipelines (using Azure DevOps or GitHub
Actions).
29. What are the solutions in Power Platform?
Solutions package all components (apps, flows, tables, etc.) for deployment across
environments. Managed solutions are used in production; unmanaged for
development.
30. How do Power Platform apps ensure security?
Uses role-based security, environment roles, and data loss prevention (DLP) policies.
Dataverse supports row-level security, field-level security, and auditing.
Security is managed via role-based access, environment-level roles, Dataverse
security roles, and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies that govern which connectors
can be used together.
31. How can we decide when to use Power Pages? What are some real-time examples?
Power Pages is a Microsoft Power Platform component designed to build secure, low-
code, public-facing websites that interact with Dataverse and other Power Platform
services. It is ideal for scenarios where you need external users to engage with your
data or processes securely and in a governed way.
31. When to Use Power Pages:
Use Power Pages when:
You need secure access to Dataverse data by external users (e.g., partners,
customers).
You require role-based authentication and authorization.
You are building a portal with forms, business logic, and workflows powered by
Power Automate or model-driven data.
You want integration with Microsoft Entra ID, Azure B2C, or other identity
providers.
You are already using other Power Platform tools and need seamless integration.
Real-time Use Cases:
1. Customer Service Portals – Let customers submit and track support tickets.
2. Insurance Portals – Allow policyholders to upload documents, view claims, or
manage profiles.
3. Restaurant Kiosk Systems – Enable table booking, feedback collection, or order
tracking.
4. University Admissions Portals – Students can apply, upload documents, and view
application status.
5. Vendor Management Portals – Onboarding and managing vendors with approval
workflows.
6. Payment Gateways Integration – Implement payments using Power Pages with
third-party integrations (e.g., Stripe, PayPal).
